DANINA RINALDI

Danina has enjoyed and practiced yoga for over 10 years. Finally deciding to share this passion with others, she enrolled in a 200 Hour New Jersey YTT and graduated the beginning of June 2019. She has added intensives to her certification to include Hot Yoga, Prenatal and Children’s Yoga. She believes yoga is for everyone, at any age, any level. When she is not practicing yoga, you can find her taking the sun in the summer, hiking in the fall and reading books for self improvement in the winter with a cup of green tea and incense lit! She is dedicated to enjoying life, family and good food.

KIM PFEIFER

Kimmy Pfeifer is an Advanced RYT500, ERYT 200, YACEP, and Dance Teacher / Choreographer in Bergen County, NJ. She strives to create a warm, comfortable, and judgement free environment that allows her students to flourish from within. With over 6 years of experience teaching children to adults, Kimmy has found movement to be a beautiful form of self expression and release for all beings. With years of practice, she now introduces ways to heal and nourish our bodies from an anatomical standpoint. With attention to detail, Kimmy’s nurturing guidance in this practice is great for beginners, continued yoga practitioners, and/or anyone looking to get creative in their movement practice.

ALEX PELUSO

Alex began practicing yoga during college as an avenue for stress and anxiety relief. Quickly, she learned about asana sequences and breath techniques that were benefiting both mind and body. She enjoys focusing on alignment, balance, and breath, and pursued a 200 RYT certification in efforts to spread the joy that yoga has given her.

"My favorite poses are Wild Thing and Stargazer because I love the elongation in my back. Outside of yoga, I am an accountant who enjoys hiking, beach days, cooking, and live music."

NICOLE ALLEN

Nicole was born in Brooklyn NY and grew up in Bergen County NJ. She is a mother of three, and has a true passion for holistic living. Nicole has always enjoyed an active lifestyle and being outdoors. Her love for yoga grew even more after giving birth to her first child. As her passion grew, she decided to transition from special education teacher to yoga teacher and completed her 200 hour YTT in 2014 with Life Power Yoga in Bergen County.

SAM MELIA

Samantha used to teach zumba and then needed a break so started to attend yoga! Sam started 6 years ago and received her 200 hour yoga certification back in 2018 at Indigo yoga. "Yoga has always been my release and has helped with deep issues I have dealt with in my past. For everything I am, I’m so blessed for yoga and what it has shown and still shows me through out my life. I have met amazing people and has made me appreciate the little things so much more! If you want to release some stress and have a fun POWERFUL experience in a class stop into her class! Hope to see you there.

CAMILLE ALONSO

Camille has been practicing Yoga for 11 years. She earned her 200 hour RYT at Indigo Yoga in Caldwell, NJ as well as her Restorative Yoga certification. She then earned her 35 hour Mindfulness Meditation Certification at Kripalu. Camille believes yoga is accessible to everyone because it brings peace, clarity, and mindfulness into the world. You can expect Camille's classes to be relaxing rejuvenating, and an opportunity to reconnect with yourself.

NADIA JARVIS

Nadia first started practicing yoga in 2015 as a form of stress relief and exercise. After a few years of attending yoga classes she wanted to dive further into her practice. In 2018 she became a RYT200 certified yoga instructor, Reiki Level 1 and 2 certified, and Hot Yoga certified. Nadia likes to keep her classes fun, light, and communicative so that anyone who walks into the studio feels welcomed and comfortable. Everyone can benefit from all that yoga has to offer! She teaches a beginner-friendly style class with upbeat energy and offers options to level up for those who seek a challenge. You will learn how to build a strong foundation while staying grounded and finding your inner peace

MICHELLE WALDORF

Michelle, a Jersey born and raised, mother of two, was initially introduced to Reiki several years ago after having her first session done by a local Reiki Master. An event that she credits as further changing the course of her life. Michelle is a Reiki Master who prides herself in ensuring that all who come for healing leave feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and further guided on their journey. She looks forward to furthering her education, certification, and arsenal by becoming a Reiki Master Teacher so that she may be able to teach and spread Reiki to all who welcome the Energy Healing Modality. Michelle’s hope is to fulfill her greatest potential and to help as many people as possible through the gentle, healing energy of Reiki.

MEGAN DEPIERO

Megan DePiero grew up in Waltham Massachusetts and now lives in Washington Twp with her husband and three daughters. She was a special education teacher for 9 years before having children. Megan grew up playing soccer, skiing and running, after a traumatic leg injury her mobility became limited... She feels as though she was lucky to find yoga. Megan received her Yoga Certification at Lifetime Fitness in 2016. She loves working with both kids and adults and believes that every BODY can DO and BENEFIT from all yoga has to offer. Megan loves sharing her passion with her students, come lose yourself on your mat with Megan!

JENNIFER CIONGOLI

Jennifer Ciongoli began her Yoga journey in 1999. After taking her first Yoga lesson there was an instant mind~body connection to the health benefits of regular Yoga practice. Jennifer’s Yoga mat became a place for quiet transformation, a sacred place for release & acceptance of self. As her practice grew, Jennifer soon found the benefits moving off the mat & into her everyday movements. Driven by the healing benefits, Jennifer received her certification in 2001 through The Sivananda Vendata Centre, Nassau Bahamas. In & out of class she encourages Positive Thinking & Experiencing Self Acceptance. A true believer in the power of reconnecting the breath to the movement of the body ~ creating a Moving Meditation of Asanas. Jennifer offers practical instruction & compassionate guidance, welcoming all to experience increased Concentration, Confidence & Relaxation.

JULIANNE FRITSKY

Julianne’s yoga journey started 12 years ago, while struggling to manage stress and anxiety. The practice gave her a sense of calm and ease, and the ability to find presence in herself. Seeing how dramatic a change yoga created, she decided to become a certified Reiki practitioner. It was at this time that she began the New Jersey Yoga Teacher Training program, knowing it would bring about major transformation in her life when she needed it most. Her biggest hope is to be able to share that ability with others. She believes deep within the heart of each person in goodness and love. She feels yoga takes us back to that space within ourselves. Showing up on the mat and getting a glimpse of that part is something that can ultimately make this world a better place.

JEN COYNE

Jen has been playing sports since she was a young child. She continued to follow that passion all the way through college and well into adulthood joining a handful of women’s leagues post school. In 2009 she realized she needed something to help her with various injuries from a lifetime of competitive sports and working out at the gym. The universe complied and she found yoga! Making yoga a staple in her adult life, she knew that she wanted to give the gift of yoga to others. Jen entered a 200 RYT program and completed it in August of 2019. This year she also completed a 25 hour yoga with weighs training and is wrapping up a 50 hour advanced sequencing training. If you don’t find Jen on her mat she will be on the field coaching and training her two sons in soccer. Her enthusiasm and love of the “game” is contagious and you will most definitely catch her enthusiastic energy when you find her guiding you through your practice!

JESSICA CIANCI

Jessica began her yoga practice in 2009 during a mandatory gym requirement in college and has been hooked ever since. In 2018 she graduated from NYYTT with certifications in vinyasa, restorative and prenatal yoga. She uses her own practice to balance her busy life as a pharmacist and translates this same mentality into her classes. She loves to show even the most skeptical of people that yoga is for everyone.

KAREN ARBEGAST

Karen's fitness journey/career began over 30 years ago in a YMCA basement weight room. She was looking for a way to combat the 'Freshman 15' and meet some campus jocks.

"After a few short months of lifting weights my body was transformed and I was hooked. A year later I hit the stage for my first bodybuilding competition. I obtained my personal training certification in 1995 and in 2010 I entered the world of group fitness by earning my group cycling certification and TRX qualification. Since that first fitness job I have personally been through many life stages; young athlete, pregnancy, post-pregnancy and now perimenopausal. It has been through these stages that I have gained valuable experience of how to work with various populations and their specific challenges.

LYNN RIGOLETTO

As a Mom, Realtor, Home Staging Consultant, running her own candle and aromatherapy business, all while working a 9 to 5 - Lynn believes we all need time to slow down and breathe.

Lynn is passionate about the opportunity of self reflection, and finding balance within. This journey began in 2002 and developed into training through mediation and mindfulness with yoga masters of chakra and sound healing.

Allow all of your senses to experience the power of practice in Lynn’s classes, workshops and personal one-on-one healing sessions!

TARA ZWEIG

Tara has always been into working out and staying healthy, mind and body. She played soccer growing up, as well as refed and coached. After years of sports, Tara finally started her yoga practice in 2006. After Tara completed her master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology, she completed her first teacher training in the summer of 2014, to earn her 200RYT. Then, she deepened her practice and teaching, and dedicated September 2016 through June 2017 to earn her 500RYT. Tara continued her journey by devoting the summer of 2017 to earn her RCYT. Tara loves practicing, learning, and sharing everything she knows and values with others. She cannot wait to inspire and touch the lives of some many yogis!

AVA LYONS

Ava has been lucky to find yoga at a very young age. She remembers practicing yoga and learning about the practice as a child in my friend’s garage with Lucy Feaster, now manager of Life Power Yoga in Bergen County.

Fast forward 10 years, and she has completed her 200 hour YTT through Life Power yoga in Bergen County twice - first at the age of 15 and again at 17.

"I am living proof that yoga is for people of all ages at any stage of life! I believe in showing up just as you are, without judgment, and watching yourself and your life transform both on and off your mat.”

Join Ava in her offering of Inner Fire at the Iron Buddha.

MARIA SALVATORE

Mama, teacher, speaker, spirit junkie, Maria Salvatore, (500ryt) has been teaching yoga and meditation for over a decade, and has been studying with master yoga teachers since 2002. Maria offers yoga and meditation as a way to approach our world with realistic reverence and gratitude. Her classes are a masterful, candid blend of artful alignment and attention cues for your body, mind and heart. From local yoga studios to the beautiful lawn at Central Park, Maria is honored to offer larger-scale experiences of yoga and meditation, but her true service is in shifting awareness within the smallest interactions; one person at a time. Currently Maria teaches weekly and monthly classes in New Jersey, New York as well as retreats, workshops and trainings.

MELANIE FERENCEVYCH

Melanie has been an athlete her whole life – passionate about witnessing and experiencing the strength and beauty one’s body is capable of. She believes she was put on the path to yoga after suffering an injury due to overtraining. That catalyst brought her to discover the healing power of yoga, that extended far beyond the physical. As with almost everything in life, Melanie’s yoga journey has evolved immensely, proving time after time the profound mental and spiritual gift stepping on to the mat offers her. She received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification at Shiva Shakti School of Yoga in NYC. Melanie is forever grateful for trusting the unknown path that has brought her to be part of the Iron Buddha community.

SAFFIT GAYNOR

Saffit is a Personal Fitness Trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and holds certifications in TRX Suspension Training, Kettlebell Training, Spinning, and Punk Rope Saffit specializes in functional training, training which involves strengthening the body for the activities performed in daily life such as walking, running, jumping, bending, climbing, and lunging. As a mom of two boys with a non-fitness full time job, Saffit understands the importance of lifestyle balance and maximizing time at the gym. Whether it is cardio, flexibility, or strength training, you will be challenged to meet current and motivated to set new fitness goals!